Matthew 7:24-27
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
James 1:22-25
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
Devotion
If you have come to faith in Christ and truly KNOW Him as the Good Shepherd, He has become the foundation for your life. When you are resting on Christ, you can build on that foundation. Jesus now presents the well-known parable of the two builders. Both builders hear the words of Jesus but respond differently. The difference lies in doing them (the words of Jesus). The wise builder is able to survive the pressures of life because of their strong spiritual foundation (Christ the ROCK). Notice that the rains and floods come, and the winds blow. This teaches us that we will not escape the pain and pressures of this world nor God’s judgment. The parable of two builders/houses reminds us that true faith in Christ will last, not only in the storms of life but also in the final judgment.
The foolish builder builds his house on a foundation of sand. What is the sand? It is human goodness and human effort. It is embracing human philosophy that rejects the exclusive claims of Jesus. When the storms of life come, this house comes crashing down because its foundation was not secure. The person who hears the words of Jesus and rejects them is in a poor plight. The same kind of afflictions come to the foolish builder as to the wise builder, and they operate in precisely the same way. But the result is very different.
Like the narrow and wide gates, Jesus is illustrating two different paths that we can take in life. We can follow God’s plan that leads to grace, mercy, forgiveness, and life, or we can follow our own way that ultimately leads to death and destruction. In Deuteronomy 30:15 we read, “See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death, and destruction.” Every day we make choices. We choose what we will wear, what we will eat, and where we will go. We also choose which foundational truths we will build our lives upon. Jesus offers us an abundant life that is built upon the firm foundation of God’s Word. So, are you the wise or foolish builder?
Questions to Ponder
What does your foundation consist of? What is the foundational truth that guides everything you do in this life? How are you holding up against the distress of these difficult times we are living in? When the pressure’s on, where do you turn for strength and help?
Prayer Points
- Praise God for being the Sure Foundation, Rock, Cornerstone, Creator of all things.
- Ask the Lord to reveal to You any part of your life where you are striving, “driving”, building, and investing in things with temporal value that have no lasting value.
- Tell the Lord You are sorry and to help show You the way toward life everlasting, to lead you into things that have eternal value: God’s Word and people.
- Pray for our precious church family at Oak Pointe, that Abba will continue to lead and shepherd us into His love. Pray we will continue to build on that which has eternal value. Pray for Pastor Bob, Shirley, all our Elders, Pastors, leaders, and family. Pray that we will cling to Him, seek Him, and trust in Him and His ways.
- Pray for the greater one church all across the earth. Ask the LORD to strengthen His bride, His Church. Pray that every denomination exalting Jesus Christ would be protected, strengthened, and fiercely in love with Jesus and each other.
Suggested Prayer
Abba, You see, hear, and know all things. Father, I know You see the distress of people all across the earth during this time of COVID-19 and racial tension. I know You see the hunger problem in every nation and the lack of the gospel going out among us. Father, forgive us for becoming a consumer kind of people, at least for me. I confess I want things. I build my days and life upon things that I see and want, many times not even talking with You first. Forgive me, LORD, and forgive Your greater one church too.
Teach us how to put first things first, to not neglect our alone time with You in the secret place in the closet. Empower us to walk in the light and not the dark. Convict us of compromise and self-serving desires and actions. Deliver us, oh God; wash us clean. Help us all be a people who are known by loving You and loving others, by building our lives on the Solid Ground, the Firm Foundation. Remove anything that has a hold on us, Lord. Refiner’s Fire come and refine us. Shape and mold us, Potter, so we shine brilliantly like stars out in the universe as we hold out Your Word. I ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.